Ranking Mr. Irrelevant’s top five players in NFL history as 49ers’ Brock Purdy makes playoff debut against Seahawks

The 49ers began their journey into the 2023 NFL Playoffs on Sunday, taking on rival Seahawks, and they did it with rookie quarterback Brock Purdy under center. But Purdy, as has been well documented, is no old rookie. Unlike San Francisco’s opening day starter Trey Lance, he didn’t come in as the franchise’s hand-picked face. Instead, he literally walked in as the last man standing, joining the 49ers as the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — Mr. Irrelevant himself.

First coined in 1976 but technically documented since the draft’s inception in 1936, the nickname Mr. Irrelevant has followed dozens of NFL prospects over the decades. Purdy, 22, is only the latest to carry the title, stepping in as a no-nonsense emergency replacement for Jimmy Garoppolo, who in turn replaced the injured Lance at the start of this season.

With a strong playoff run, Purdy has a chance to quickly become one of the greatest Mr. Irrelevants to ever take the field. With that in mind, here’s a look at five of the most relevant Mr. Irrelevants in NFL history:

5.Marty Moore (1994)

Written: No. 222 overall | Team: Patriots | University: Kentucky

The first Mr. Irrelevant to win a Super Bowl, Moore spent eight seasons as a linebacker — seven with the Patriots and one with the Browns. Although he made just 19 career starts, posting his best numbers (90 tackles, four pass deflections, one INT) in Cleveland, he carved out a role on special teams with the Pats, earning jobs under Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick. Logging two picks in a limited number of snaps during Carroll’s first year as head coach, he earned a club championship ring in 2001 against the Rams “Greatest Show on Turf.”

4. Jim Finn (1999)

Written: No. 253 overall | Team: Bear | University: Pennsylvania

Finn didn’t crack as a rookie, spending part of his freshman year on the Bears’ practice squad. After that, however, he made his way to the Colts, who had just come off a 13-3 breakout, and had eight straight years as an active guard. An offload option for Peyton Manning, sharing a backfield with Edgerrin James, he saw his best production alongside Peyton’s brother Eli with the Giants (2003-2007). In New York, Finn passed 100 receiving yards twice, helped block for All-Pro Tiki Barber and earned a ring when the G-Men upset the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

3. Bill Fischer (1948)

Written: No. 300 overall | Team: Cardinals | University: our Lady

Esteemed guard of College Football Hall of Fame coach Frank Leahy at Notre Dame, Fischer returned to school after the Cardinals drafted him after his freshman year, then officially launched his NFL career. a year later, when the Cardinals drafted him again — this time 10th overall. The big man started 48 games over five seasons, mostly at left tackle, becoming the first Mr. Irrelevant to earn a Pro Bowl nod (he finished with three). While also recording the occasional snap on defense, Fischer ended his brief but stellar career with one interception and 10 fumble recoveries.

2. Jacques MacKinnon (1961)

Written: No. 280 overall | Team: Eagles | University: Colgate

Like Fischer, he had an unusual way of finding Mr. Irrelevant fame. Although the Eagles took him on late in the 1961 draft, the fullback/tight end instead fled to the West Coast, signing with the AFL’s San Diego Chargers. He spent the next nine years under Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman, deployed as both runner and receiver in two tight sets. An athletic threat ahead of his time, MacKinnon had nearly 2,500 career scrimmage yards, including 33 catches for 646 yards and six touchdowns at age 30 in 1968. The slugger also spent just one season with the Raiders (1970), just as the AFL merged with the NFL, letting the game appear in four different AFL Championships and winning one.

Written: No. 256 overall | Team: Heads | University: Caroline from the south

Of all the Mr. Irrelevants, none has had such a consistent impact over such a long period of time. One of only two kickers selected in 2009, Succop showed his leg early, setting the Chiefs rookie record for field goals (25) and tying an NFL record for field goal percentage by recruits (86.2). After five years in Kansas City, he spent six with the Titans, eclipsing 100 points three times on the year. With the Buccaneers since 2020, he broke a franchise record for single-season points (136) on the club’s Super Bowl championship team. And at 36, he still has it, entering Week 14 currently 24 of 27 on field goals for Tampa Bay. In his 14th season, he ranks in the top 35 all-time kickers in points (1,400+) and field goal percentage (83.5%), ahead of Pro Bowlers big names like Mark Moseley , Neil Rackers and Billy Cundiff.

A look at each Mr. Irrelevant

Now that we’ve ranked the top five, here’s a look at Mr. Irrelevant’s history since the term was first coined in 1976. Iowa State’s Purdy was selected in 2022 with the 262nd pick by the 49ers.